Post office wants to contract out new addresses

http://www.nalc.org/depart/legpol/pdf/Contracting%20Out,%20Collective%20Bargaining%20and%20the%20NALC%20Contract.pdf


I am a member of NALC Branch #47 and we are very concerned about the P.O.'s future agenda. Some of us feel that the higher ups in the P.O., the Postmaster General and the board of governors have a Republican agenda.

We are working without a contract right now, as we can't agree on this subject. The P.O. wants to make any new address a contract route- hire someone at at decent, not terrific wage- with no benefits. These contract workers use their own vehicles.

We already hire casual workers, people who work a 90 day stint and then switch crafts and work another 90 day. They are basically a body to carry the mail or move the mail inside of the P.O. If they get hurt while on the job- they're fired. They get no benefits whatsoever.

I feel that this is a travesty against all of the working members of this country. And I personally don't want just anyone having access to my mail or to that all important arrow key- the key that unlocks any mailbox in the U.S.- the collection box, the apartment box, etc.

Please urge your representative to support H.R. 282. The future of the P.O. as we know it is at stake.

Current USPS = Not-for-Profit, reasonably good public service from Decently Paid Union Workers = Common-man and taxpayers benefit, and money (and perhaps more votes) flows to the Democratic Party

Repug USPS = Privatization (e.g. purely greed/profit-driven) of an essentially monopolized utility-style public service = higher prices for the consumer w/lower service standards from shit-paid, no benefit-having workers, a busted union = a small cabal gets fabulously wealthy by 'employing' the contractors and pocketing all the extra money the workers themselves should have gotten, who then owe a debt to the GOP benefactors who facilitated their 'deals' w/the Post Office = huge checks to the GOP coffers every two years.

A perfect microcosm of the past 6 years of Political Life in the bUShlAnd.

Here's a big hint to those of you IDIOTS (just in case Bubba Freeptard happens by) out there that still don't get it: EVERYTHING the bush administration does is ALWAYS about POLITICS. Because politics are a convenient means to their true ends, which is STEALING THE TAXPAYERS MONEY for themselves and their fat-cat cronies.

I work with a few guys who are scabs and Republican to boot. One of our mutual friends called one guy a welfare recipient one time- over collecting union benefits without paying union dues. That really raised his ire!

They really don't know that they are shooting themselves in the foot. It is amazing to me that such ignorance exists.

And welcome to DU!

They are not in a mail truck but just a car I am sure they own? I see nothing wrong with that and I hope they get some health care etc. I just figured they were PO workers. The people in mail trucks and uniform seem to be at another level. Just what does the PO GOP leaders plan now? It has to be a work for less and the profits will show up on Wall Street. I have no hope when it comes to anything Bush and Co, have a hand in. If our tax has built something some one wants it for making a profit and to be sure Bush will see that they get it. From your local water works to the Armies it is all going for profit fast.

I don't know exactly how it works, as I am a city carrier myself. I think perhaps that their pay is not as great, but rural carriers will buy their own left hand drive vehicles to use. I am guessing that the pay is not as great as we've had the dispute in the past as to whether a delivery would be city or rural. But I believe that they get benefits. And now, they're trying to turn those deliveries into just contract carriers.

I think that this is horrible. The P.O. was set up to provide mail delivery to all Americans. Until recently, we were a not allowed to make a profit- just to meet our operating costs. All of our operating costs are raised through revenue- we don't receive anything from the government.

If the P.O. were privatized, you could bet that for Grandma to send something in her small little town, it would be too costly.


That is why a stamp was raised by a mere penny or two. Recently though, they changed that, so that we can keep a little more in a reserve.

It is a tie all need. Did you know that their is a PO in a hotel in a NH hotel as that is the town. I think their are two that I can name. Breton Woods Mount Washington Hotel and Balsam Spa which I think is in the town of Dix ville. You know where they vote first. Both are a town that are the hotel. I lived in a small town with a third class PO in an old museum building. No RFD out of it. I am sure these are run with no profits but they should be run and kept open. A country needs a common speech and other com mom things to tie it together.

Nothing probably.

I would think nothing, also. Carriers are the ears and eyes of the community. We get to know our patrons and there have been several occasions where we've saved a life by noticing that the mail has piled up, etc.

that has continued to function effectively through the past 6 years... or so it seems to the outside. I know my carrier fairly well and he hasn't liked several of the changes happening locally but overall, it works better than say, FEMA or Homeland Security.

the P.O. has invested millions in automation, letters that come in route order. This will- in managements eyes- cut down on the office time at a good rate and use a machine to speed it up. Their goal is for all of us to spend no more than two hours in the office and the remaining six on the street.

The problem is that management has it all worked out on paper as to how well automation will work, but realistically- it doesn't always work. In Denver, we have automated letters and they are working on a flat (large envelopes and magazines)sorting machine. This machine is the size of a football field. What has not been worked out is how we will deal with so many bundles.

Imho, the letter machine doesn't always work. If you get a letter for a location that isn't even close, that would be the machine not reading it properly and the carrier missing it.

I have letters come to my route in Denver that were intended for England or India.

I agree with your carrier, Rosesaylavee. All in all, things work okay. It is by far, the most dysfunctional place that I've ever worked!